Daniel Donskoy and 10 Questions with ....

Daniel Donskoy and 10 Questions with TotalNtertainment. Daniel is earning acclaim for his take on electronic-infused R&B. Also renowned as an actor, most famously in the Netflix smash ‘The Crown’. We got the oppportunity to speak with him about his new single, his acting and much more.

1. Thanks for your time Daniel, how is life treating you at the moment?

It is very easy to complain about the current situation but really hard to see the positives and I’m choosing to focus on the good. I’m about to start shooting a German TV series about a young couple struggling with the Pandemic situation and I have just released a new song so I am full of creative energy! So all in all – I’m grand, thank you for asking.

2. How would you sum up 2020 for Daniel Donskoy?

2020 was a year with a lot of struggles and quite a lot of unexpected disappointments on the one side but a year that brought me closer to my inner voice. I spent a lot of time alone and had the opportunity to really figure out why I’m actually doing all this. It has become so evident to me that artists have a chance and a responsibility to inspire their audiences and I want to use that chance to give people entertainment and on the other side try and send light on perspectives they might not yet have had.

3. Roll the clock back to January 1, 2020, what were your plans for the year, and how has the way the year turned out affected those plans?

Well, I was about to announce my tour, my debut album (BIG SIGH) and was ready to shoot a new UK series – this was all pushed back to 2021 or even 2022. Those were the biggest disappointments. I was really hoping to finally see my family more. I’ve been so focused on work that I simply did not spend enough quality time with them and felt bad not having been there for my little siblings. In the end I didn’t see the majority of my family at all as they are scattered over 5 countries and travel was a little more difficult than usual.. So yeah. I’m happy 2020 is over and am full of hope for a better 2021.

4. You’ve got a brilliant new single out “Bring Me Back My Smile”,can you tell us more about it?

I wrote this song about a period in my life where I honestly couldn’t get myself to smile any more. It was a period of darkness after a breakup and several other personal issues. I was trying so hard to get out of it constantly looking for things outside my personal realm to make me feel better only to realize after some time that it wasn’t possible. The only person that could bring my smile back was myself. When switching up release plans and deciding that I’m going to go for a strategy of single releases corona was already upon us. And the one thing we all need right now – as a society – is to get our smiles back. Because no matter what brings on sadness, insecurity, anxiety and depression – it’s good to know we’re not alone in this. So, if this song manages to remind someone of their power and bring on a smile to their face – it was already worth releasing it just now!

5. Can you talk us through your plans for 2021?

I’m starting to shoot a series next week and I am very excited as it’s my first shoot this year. This will be followed by another 3 or four production throughout the year. It’s still very difficult to say anything for certain as plans might change depending on the pandemic. I’m eager to finish my album and hopefully release it at the end of the year and announce my tour for 2022. But let’s see what the corona gods will allow us to do…

6. Aside from your music career, you’re also an actor. What are your plans for 2021 in that area?

I currently have over 10 scripts on my desk some of which have already notified me that they will be postponed to 2022. Hopefully we’ll be able to shoot three of four of them this year. It spans from a German comedy production, to a historical Austrian / French Docudrama, a UK feature film (most likely to be postponed) and a stellar Drama series for a streaming service. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that production will commence and we can create some wonderful entertainment for the people who are currently really in need of it.

7. They’re both hugely creative worlds, what do you get out of both either from putting your ideas into song or putting yourself into character for an acting role?

Creation is all about inspiration so of course it’s hugely beneficial to be a part of both worlds which can co-inspire my creative flow. The creative process is fundamentally different though. In Music, I delve into my own world trying to express my story and to a certain extent it evolves around my perception of the world and the emotions that arise from that. As an actor it’s not about me at all. I use my feelings and understanding of the world to create a character who feels, lives and creates differently than I do. I feel very lucky to be able to work in a variety of genres.

8. Going back to your previous single “ Robbed Me”, you talk about loneliness and depression, aside from keeping busy with music and work how have you been keeping your own mental health in check over the last twelve months?

The last couple of weeks started to really weigh in on me. In the first lockdown it’s been easy to enjoy some quietness and have some time to fish for inspiration in my inner self – now it’s starting to get to me – I’m dying for some connection with the “old” world – spontaneous adventures, boozy nights and hanging out with friends are so essential for my sanity, so truth be told I’m struggling slightly at the minute. But I’m having a little yoga sessions every day – try to go out once a day even if it’s just for a short walk and cook nice food for myself. Nothing special so if anyone has found the remedy to the lockdown blues please DM me 🙂

9. Just for fun: If you were a bicycle, what part would you be?

I’d be the wheels I think. Trying to free myself from the breaks of society 🙂 haha that sounds cheesy.

10. Thanks again for your time and good luck with everything. Just to finish, what are you hopes for 2021?

That the vaccine can be ruled out globally, that people don’t get left behind, governments play up to their responsibilities and that we can soon enjoy live music again. Oh, and most importantly that we remain empathic towards one another in this really challenging time.